FIX: Windows won’t let me change my desktop background

If you cannot change your desktop background on your Windows 10 computer, it could be the setting is disabled, or there’s another underlying cause. However, one of the easiest ways to fix this almost instantly is by right clicking on any photo and setting it as desktop background. This can also be done via settings by clicking Settings > Personalization > Background to select a picture and change background on your computer.

But what do you do when you’ve tried all the basic fixes you know and nothing seems to work? Check out some of the workarounds below and see if one of these does the trick for you.

1. Preliminary fixes

Turn off ‘Show Windows background’

Check if you have installed a third-party customization software as it could be restricting you from changing the desktop background. If so uninstall it and restart your computer, then try to change background again.

Reinstall Windows again from your recovery key

2. Check that your Windows 10 is activated

This can prevent you from changing background via Settings. Here’s how to confirm if your Windows 10 is genuine and activated:

Select DWORD and name it as NoChangingWallPaper. The DWORD value 1 will restrict changein desktop wallpaper. To allow change give it value as 0.

Restart your computer

6. Perform a clean boot

A clean boot reduces conflicts related to software that can show what is causing you not to be able to change background, usually as a result of apps and services that start and run in the background when Windows starts normally. To do this: